KING OF THE UNDERGROUND CITY

The DeMarco building

Dante walked through the tunnels toward the surface, his mind churning.

The DeMarco building. The hidden vault. The mastermind. Serena's words echoed in his head: The mastermind is dangerous. He has eyes everywhere. He'll know you're coming.

He needed to find out who was behind the network. He needed to confront them. But first, he needed to talk to Luciano.

The old man had been lying to him for years. He'd hidden the truth about his grandmother, his uncle, the conspiracy. He'd told him his father killed Matteo. He'd been part of the inner circle.

Was he the mastermind? Or was he just a coward, hiding behind his wine and his secrets?

There was only one way to find out.

---

He climbed the rusted ladder to the surface, emerging through the grate behind the DeMarco building. The night air was cold, the sky a murky gray. He crossed the alley and entered the building, climbing the narrow stairs to Luciano's apartment.

He knocked on the door.

No answer.

He knocked again, harder.

Still nothing.

He tried the handle. It was unlocked.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The apartment was dark, the only light coming from the street outside. Luciano was sitting in his armchair by the window, staring out at the city. He didn't turn when Dante entered.

"I was wondering when you'd come," Luciano said quietly.

"You knew I'd find out."

"I knew you'd find out eventually." Luciano turned, his face pale in the dim light. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Dante crossed the room, his hands clenched into fists. "You lied to me. You told me my father killed Matteo. You told me my grandmother died in the fire. You've been hiding the truth for years."

"I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me from what? The truth?"

"From the weight of it." Luciano's voice was barely above a whisper. "Your father was betrayed by someone he trusted. Someone close to him. Someone in his inner circle."

Dante stepped closer. "Who?"

Luciano was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm not." Luciano's voice cracked. "I've been trying to find out for twenty years. But whoever it was, they were careful. They covered their tracks. They left no evidence."

Dante stared at him. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect you to believe the truth." Luciano stood, his hands trembling. "I've made mistakes, Dante. I've lied. I've hidden things. But I've never betrayed your family. I've never worked against you."

"Then who did?"

Luciano walked to a shelf and pulled down a worn photograph. He handed it to Dante.

It was a picture of a man—tall, silver-haired, with a burn scar on his cheek.

"Your uncle," Luciano said. "Matteo."

Dante stared at the photograph. "He's the mastermind?"

"I don't know." Luciano's voice was heavy. "But he's been hiding in the shadows for twenty years. He's been leaving you clues. He's been manipulating you."

"You're wrong."

"Am I?" Luciano stepped closer. "Think about it, Dante. He faked his own death. He's been living in the tunnels for twenty years. He left the body, the ring, the notes. He's been playing you from the beginning."

Dante's mind was racing. His uncle, the man who'd saved him from the Caruso attack. The man who'd been watching him for years. The man who'd been leaving him clues.

Was he the mastermind? Or was he just a victim of the same conspiracy?

"He saved my life," Dante said. "He saved me from the Carusos."

"Or he staged the attack to gain your trust."

Dante shook his head. "No. He's not the traitor."

"How do you know?"

"Because I met him." Dante's voice was hard. "I talked to him. He's not the mastermind. He's been hiding for twenty years, trying to survive."

Luciano was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "I hope you're right. For your sake."

"I am right." Dante turned to the door. "But I need to find out who is behind the network. I need to find the mastermind."

"Where are you going?"

"To find the truth."

---

Dante walked through the tunnels, his mind churning.

Luciano's words echoed in his head: He's been manipulating you. Was his uncle the mastermind? Or was Luciano trying to protect someone else?

He didn't know. But he was going to find out.

He reached the entrance to Sector Four and walked toward the pumping station. His uncle was there, waiting in the shadows.

"You came back," Matteo said.

"I need to ask you something."

Matteo's eyes narrowed. "What?"

"The network. The conspiracy. The mastermind." Dante stepped closer. "Are you the one behind it?"

Matteo was silent for a long moment. Then he said, "No. I'm not the mastermind. I'm a victim of the same conspiracy."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

Matteo's voice was soft. "Because I've been hiding for twenty years. Because I've been watching you, protecting you. Because I loved your father, and I would never betray him."

Dante studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"I believe you," he said. "But I need to find the mastermind. I need to end this."

"Then come with me." Matteo turned and walked toward the pumping station. "There's something I need to show you."

---

They descended into the pumping station, through the hidden door, down the narrow staircase. The chamber at the bottom was the same—the stone table, the empty shelves, the gas lamp flickering in the dark.

But something was different.

In the center of the room, lying on the stone table, was a piece of paper.

Dante picked it up and read it.

I know you've been looking for me.

I know you've been asking questions.

Stop looking. Stop asking.

Or the people you love will pay the price.

— The Mastermind

Dante felt a chill run down his spine.

It was a warning. A threat. The mastermind knew he was getting closer.

"Who left this?" Dante demanded.

Matteo shook his head. "I don't know. It wasn't here when I left."

Dante read the note again, his hands trembling. Or the people you love will pay the price.

He thought about Gia. About Nina. About Aldo.

They were in danger.

"I need to go," Dante said. "I need to warn them."

Matteo nodded. "Be careful, Dante. The mastermind is dangerous. He'll try to stop you."

"He won't stop me." Dante's voice was hard. "I'm going to find him. And I'm going to destroy him."

He turned and ran back through the tunnels, the note clutched in his hand.

The mastermind was watching. The mastermind was threatening the people he loved.

But he wasn't going to stop. He wasn't going to give up.

He was going to find the mastermind. And he was going to end this once and for all.